Thursday, January 20, 2011

Where do I begin to describe how central Morrill's Corner was to my family? The above piece mentions businesses that were thriving at the Corner in 1949, including some I remember well: Watkins Department Store, Martin's 5 and 10, and Morrill's Corner IGA.

The Corner was the home of Fred and Vina Bustin (my great grandparents) - at four different addresses! The 1910 Census shows them at 6 Morrill St. Here's a picture of Vina and Marvin at "the Old House on Morrill St."

By the 1920 census, Fred and Vina, and their four small children, Vesta, Suther, Marvin, and Lawrence, were living at 847 Stevens Ave.. And, ten years later, during the 1930 Census, they were at 815 Stevens Ave.

According to the Portland City Directory for that year, by 1936, the Fred Bustin family resided at 827 Stevens Ave., a first floor rent, right near the intersection mentioned in Harold Boyle's article above. Mom fondly remembers, as a little 5 year old grand-daughter, being given the job of carrying the pillows, as the family moved down the street.

So, so many family gatherings at 827 Stevens Avenue. Their home was the central stop for any folks from Down East (New Brunswick and Nova Scotia) coming for a visit to the States.

Morrill's Corner was also the home of Ross (he never used his given name of Suther) and Harriet Bustin (my grandparents), just down Bishop Street, at 24 Mayfield St., where they raised two daughters, Marilyn (mom) and Norma. Their respective families have many fond memories of root beer floats on the front porch, and kick ball games in the street.

Just off the corner, on Allen Avenue, was the home of Marvin and Ruth Bustin, and their son Norm. There were many Christmas gatherings there with aunts, uncles and cousins over the years.

"The Corner" hardly looks the same anymore, with the rotary long gone. But the memories never fade.

Wednesday, January 12, 2011

The mention above commemorated my Great-Grandfather's 50 years (1910-1960) working for the Maine Central Railroad. Fred P. Bustin (1886-1965), born in Mechanic Settlement, Kings Co., New Brunswick, Canada, worked at the Maine Central's largest yard, known as Rigby Yard, in South Portland.

This is a group picture of Rigby railroad workers, with "Pap" the second from the left in the front.

Interchange with their long time partner, the Boston and Maine, was done here.